FCA appoints six new members to Regulatory Decisions Committee

"Karen and Nick bring a wealth of consumer-focused knowledge and experience in the consumer credit and other sectors, which will complement existing committee members."

The newest members appointed to the RDC are Karen Johnston and Nick Lord. They join Stuart McIntosh, Philip Marsden, Robin Mason and Malcolm Nicholson who were appointed last year.

Karen is a lawyer with over 20 years’ experience gained across public, private and voluntary sectors. She has a specialist interest in consumer services and consumer protection.

She has also worked extensively on the implementation of EU legal standards into UK consumer and pension law, and has provided specialist expertise to policy makers at DTI, DWP and Treasury. She joined the Pensions Regulator in 2005, where she worked initially on the establishment of a cross border authorization regime for pensions. She then worked closely with DWP policy makers to develop the regime which established NEST and auto-enrolment.

Nick has over thirty years’ experience representing the consumer interest in financial services, with particular reference to the regulation of consumer credit and mortgage credit.

Nick's past positions include director of the Mortgage Code Compliance Board, adviser to the HMT review that led to the establishment of the Money Advice Service, and member of the Financial Services Consumer Panel.

The RDC is responsible for taking certain regulatory decisions on behalf of the FCA relating to enforcement and supervisory actions, and firm authorisation and individual approval applications.

Membership is drawn from across a spectrum of business, consumer and industry experience.

Tim Parkes, Chair of the RDC, said: “I am delighted to welcome our newest members to the committee. Karen and Nick bring a wealth of consumer-focused knowledge and experience in the consumer credit and other sectors, which will complement existing committee members.

“Stuart, Philip, Robin and Malcolm joined the RDC during 2016. All four are members of other FCA and PSR decision-making committees and contribute a wide range of legal and academic expertise, as well as experience of collective decision-making, which will enhance overall the capability and effectiveness of the RDC.”